Loose-leaf binder



April 10, 1951 J. A. PURVIS LOOSE-LEAF BINDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledFeb. 18', 1946 INVENTOR. qjmzfifiwyw April 10, 1951 J. A. P'uRvls2,548,618

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Filed Feb. 1a, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 10,195i UNITED STATES PATENT oEF cE Claims.

The present invention relates to a loose leaf binder and especially to anovel binder construction comprising a pair of separable sections forreceiving and retaining loose sheets, charts or pages, and in whichthese sheets Or the like may be quickly inserted or removed by a simplemanipulation.

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel looseleaf binder including a cover provided with spaced, staggered slots forreceiving complementary sections of the binder. In the novel embodiment,these sections do not extend beyond the edges of the cover or loose leafsheets and the latter do not offset when the cover or pad is open.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a binderincluding a pair of complemem tary sections, each provided with aparallel backing strip and spaced arcuate-shaped segments or projectionsforming closed loops or binder rings when the secticns are assembled forretaining a plurality of sheets, charts, pages or the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel bindercomprising a pair of sections which maybe quickly assembled ordisassembled by a simple, longitudinal movement, and requires no pivotalconnection or spring-actuated mounting for opening or closing thebinder. Furthermore, the present novel binder requires no specialequipment to assemble it in its cover, and when assembled, the parts orsections automatically and securely interlock and prevent accidental orunintentional removal of the attached sheets.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity,efficiency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such furtherobjects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear andare inherently possessed thereby.

The invention further resides in the construction, combination andarrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and whilethere is shown therein a preferred embodiment, it is to be understoodthat the same is susceptible of modification and change, and comprehendsother details, arrangements of parts, features and constructions withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary View in perspective of my novel binder inassembled relation.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the binder in fully open position beforethe insertion of the sheets or pages.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in vertical crosssection through the covertaken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 but showing several sheets or pages onthe cover.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective View showing the manner ofassembling the binder sections in the cover."

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the binder sections in position to beassembled by a relative longitudinal movement.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view, part in plan and part in horizontalcross-section, of the binder in assembled relation.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary end view of the closed assembly.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective of a modified formof binder sections ready for assembly.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 but with the sections thereofassembled.

Fig. 1 0 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but showing an alternate form ofcover.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and to the novelillustrative embodiment therein shown, the present invention comprises anovel binder I sembled is adapted to receive and retain a plurality ofloose sheets, charts or pages 3 adapted to comprise a pad, manual, hookor the like. The binder includes a pair of complementary sections 4formed of metal, plastic or other material suitable for the purpose,with each section consisting of a backing strip 5 provided with aplurality of spaced, arcuate or crescent-shaped arms or members 6, whichwhen the binder is assembled form a plurality of spaced loops forreceiving and retaining one or more sheets, pages, charts or the like 3.

The backing strips 5 project radially inward when the binder is closedand extend in parallel, abutting relation, the sections being soconstructed and arranged that the sheets, pages, charts or the like 3lie fiat against the cover or support when the pad or book is in openposition, as shown more clearly in Fig. 1. Each backing strip isprovided at one end with an out' sections when the tongue or lip I ofone section engages over the end H! of the other section.

When these sections are moved endwise into inin closed, assembledrelation.

having a cover 2, which when as-- The cover 2 is preferably formed of asingle or integral sheet of some suitable backing material having twosets of spaced slots or elongatedopenings II, II and l2, [2, with theslots H, H offset or staggered with respect to slots l2, 12. These slotsare longer than the width of the arcuate or crescent-shaped members orarms 6 in an amount suflicient to permit the complementary sections 4 ofthe binder, with the arms or members 6 of one section interlaced orprojecting through the slots H, H and the other through the slots l2,12, to be shifted laterally of the cover in their assembly ordisassembly. Thus when the sections are disassembled, the upper section4 is moved to the left when viewed in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 in which thearcuate-shaped arms or projections E are moved to the left end of theslots H, H, while the lower section 4 is moved to the right with itsarms or projections 6 moved to the right in the slots l2, 12.

Upon the sections 5 being moved into parallel position and then movedlongitudinally relative to each other, the opposite ends H) of thebacking strips 5 are so disposed as to seat under and interlock with therearwardly projecting tongues or lips I at the other ends of the backinstrips 5. In this assembled position, the complementary arcuateprojections 6 form closed loops or binder rings securely retaining anydesired number of sheets, pages, charts or the like. This operation isclearly shown in Fig. l and also in Figs. 8 and 9. In these latterviews, the comple mentary, abutting ends of the arcuate projections 6are tapered as in the preceding figures, but one is formed with a notch13 and the other with a detent M for interlocking engagement. Also oneof the backing strips 5 may be provided with one or more hooks l4intermediate its length and the other with one or more slots or notchesl6 for receiving the hooks to lock these strips together. This lockingmeans is especially useful where the binder strips may be relativelylong, although such locking feature may also be employed at the ends ofthe strips.

In Fig. is shown an alternate formof cover I! for receiving thecomplementary sections 4 of the binder I, and in which form the cover isfolded upon itself to provide a pair of spaced and inwardly extendingprojections l8 each provided with a set of elongated slots II or l2, theslots being offset or staggered in the same manner and relation as shownclearly in Fig. 2 of the drawings. In this form of the invention, thecomplete binder l is enclosed within the cover and provides a novelassembly.

The present novel construction of binder requires no special equipmentfor assembly and permits the quick insertion or removal of one or moresheets from any position within the binder by separating the sections inthe manner outlined above. Furthermore, the sections forming the binderare not pivotally or otherwise connected so that either section may bereadily removed and replaced should the occasion require. Although thepresent binder is shown as associated with a cover, it will be readilyappreciated that the novel construction may be employed as a completeunit Without the cover.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. A loose leaf binder comprising a cover formed of a single sheetprovided with a front and back, a pair of complementary sections eachprovided with a backing member and spaced arcuate projections, spacedslots provided in the back and front of the cover loosely receiving thearcuate projections, interengaging means on the backing members forretaining the sections assembled when the backing members are placed inparallel position and moved longitudinally and relative to each otherinto abutting and coinciding relation, said slots being staggered in thefront and back of the cover and of such length as to permit the sectionsto be quickly moved relative to each other and laterally of the coverand into and out of assembly, and when assembled, the cover is heldfirmly against relative movement with respect to the sections.

2. A loose leaf binder having a cover formed with a back and front, apair of complementary and separate sections each provided with a backingmember and spaced arcuate projections, spaced elongated slots providedin the back and front of the cover for receiving the arcuate projectionsand of substantially greater length than the width of the projectionspermitting the projections to be moved upon longitudinal, relativemovement of the backing members into and out of assembled relation, andmeans on the backing members for locking these members together whenthey are located in parallel position and moved longitudinally andrelative to each other into coinciding relation and disengaging themwhen these members are moved out of such position, said slots beingdisposed in staggered relation and of such length as to permit thesections and their arcuate projections to be moved laterally of thecover suflicient to permit ready assembly or disassembly of thesesections.

3. A loose leaf binder for a pad or the like having a cover providing afront and back for the pad, a pair of complementary and separatesections each provided with a backing member and spaced arcuateprojections, spaced elongated slots provided in the back and front ofthe cover for receiving the arcuate projections and permitting them tobe moved upon longitudinal movement of one of the backing members withrespect to the other and into and out of assembled relation, the slotsin the front and back of the cover being disposed in ofiset relation andof substantially greater length than the width of the projections so asto permit at least one of the sections and its arcuate projections to bemoved laterally of the cover sufiicient to permit ready assembly ordisassembly of these sections, and means at the opposite ends of thebacking members for looking the sections together when they are locatedin parallel position and moved relative to each other and longitudinallyinto coinciding relation, and in which position these sections areretained against relative movement laterally of the cover.

4. A loose leaf binder having a one-piece cover provided with a back anda front, a pair of complementary and separate sections each providedwith a backing member and spaced arcuate projections, spaced slotsprovided in the back and in the front of the cover for receiving thearcuate projections and of a length substantially greater than the widthof the projections permitting relative longitudinal movement of thebacking members into and out of assembled relation, and means on thebacking members for engaging and locking these members together whenthey are placed in parallel position and moved relative to each otherand longitudinally into abutting and coinciding relation, and releasingthem from such engagement when these members are longitudinally movedapart, said slots in the back and front of the cover staggered so as topermit one of the sections and its arcuate projections to be 5 movedlongitudinally of the other and laterally of the cover sufficient topermit ready assembly or disassembly of these sections.

5. A loose leaf binder for a pad or the like having a cover comprising asingle sheet providing a front and a back for the pad, a pair ofcomplementary and separate sections each provided with a backing memberand spaced arcuate projections, spaced slots provided in the front andback of the cover for receiving the arcuate projections and ofsubstantially greater length than the width of the projectionspermitting the latter to be moved into and out of assembled relationupon longitudinal movement of one of the backing members with respect tothe other, the slots in the front and back of the cover being sodisposed as to permit one of the sections and its arcuate projections tobe moved laterally of the cover sufficient to permit ready assembly ordisassembly of the sections, and means at the 6 opposite ends of thebacking members for lock ing the sections together when they aredisposed in parallel position and moved relative to each other andlongitudinally into abutting and coin ciding relation, and in whichposition these sections are retained against relative movement laterallyof the cover.

JUDSON A. PURVIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

